Hybrid bag toss and card game

ABSTRACT

A hybrid bag toss and card game, including an angled game board that has plural holes through which tossable items will fit, and markings on the game board that relate each of the holes to playing card values. Preferably, the tossable items are bean-bags, corn-filled bags, or balls, and the game also includes these tossable items. In one embodiment, a number of the plural holes is five, corresponding to the card values often, jack, queen, king, and ace. In another embodiment, a number of the plural holes is seven, corresponding to the card values of eight, nine, ten, jack, queen, king, and ace. Also, a method of playing the game.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a hybrid bag toss and card game.

2. Description of the Related Art

Cornhole is a game in which players throw bean-bags, corn-filled bags,or other tossable items at a hole in an angled game board. Cornhole isalso known as corn toss, bean bag toss, bean toss, soft horseshoes, andIndiana horseshoes. Official rules for cornhole are published by theAmerican Cornhole Association at http://www.playcornhole.org/.

Cornhole is a simple and enjoyable game. However, players often desiremore variety and challenge in their gameplay.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention addresses this desire with a hybrid bag toss and cardgame. The game is played with an angled game board that has plural holesthrough which tossable items will fit. The game board has markings thatrelate each of the holes to playing card values. In a preferredembodiment, the tossable items are bean-bags, corn-filled bags, orballs, and the game also includes these tossable items.

In one embodiment, a number of the plural holes is five, correspondingto the card values of ten, jack, queen, king, and ace. In anotherembodiment, a number of the plural holes is seven, corresponding to thecard values of eight, nine, ten, jack, queen, king, and ace. Otherarrangements are possible.

The game preferably is played by having players make tosses ofthetossable items at the game board. Card values are assigned to the tossesbased on which of the plural holes the tossable items go through, ifany. A winner is determined among the players based on the card valuesof each of the players' tosses ranked as if in a card game, for examplepoker or blackjack.

In some embodiments, the game board also can include a gridcorresponding to other playing card values. Card values can be assignedto tosses that land on the game board without going through any of theplural holes based on where the tosses land on the grid.

The game board also preferably includes a bubble level that can be usedto level the game board during game set-up, folding adjustable heightlegs, weights that add stability to the game board, and a catcher forthe tossable items hanging from a back of the game board. Theseinnovations assist in set-up and game play. However, the game can beplayed without them.

In a preferred embodiment, a topper board also is provided. The topperboard fits over the angled game board and covers all but one of theplural holes. When the topper board is fit over the game board, thecombination preferably results in a configuration that complies withrules for cornhole.

The game preferably is played with two of the game boards separated by27 feet. Thus, players can toss at one game board, note their scores(i.e., playing card values), go to the other game board to retrieve thetossable items, and then toss them at the other game board. Diagonallyarranged strings can be used to assist in aligning the game boards witheach other at this distance. Alternatively, a single game board can beused.

This brief summary has been provided so that the nature of the inventionmay be understood quickly. A more complete understanding of theinvention may be obtained by reference to the following description ofthe preferred embodiments thereof in connection with the attacheddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 show embodiments of a hybrid bag toss and card game.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show top views of some possible layouts of grids and cardvalues for embodiments of a hybrid bag toss and card game.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a topper board for a hybrid bag toss andcard game that converts the game into a cornhole game.

FIG. 6 shows an arrangement of two game boards that can be used to playa hybrid bag toss and card game.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1 and 2 show embodiments of a hybrid bag toss and card game.

Briefly, a hybrid bag toss and card game according to the invention isplayed with an angled game board that has plural holes through whichtossable items will fit. The game board has markings that relate each ofthe holes to playing card values.

Thus, FIGS. 1 and 2 show hybrid bag toss and card game 1. The gameincludes angled game board 2 that has plural holes 3 through whichtossable items 4 will fit. In a preferred embodiment, tossable items 4are bean-bags, corn-filled bags, or balls, and the game also includesthese tossable items. Other tossable items can be used.

The game board preferably measures two feet wide by four feet long, andthe holes preferably are 6″ in diameter. The board preferably is angledto be 3.5″ off the ground in front and 11.5″ off the ground in the back.One of the plural holes 3 preferably corresponds to a cornhole gamehole. Other dimensions and arrangements of boards and holes can be used.

The game board includes markings 5 that relate each of the holes toplaying card values. In one embodiment, shown in FIG. 1, a number oftheplural holes is seven, corresponding to card values of eight, nine, ten,jack, queen, king, and ace. In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 2, anumber of the plural holes is five, corresponding to card values of ten,jack, queen, king, and ace. Other arrangements are possible.

The game board can be made of any suitably strong and durable material,including but not limited to wood, plastic, composites, fiberglass,metal, and the like. The boards preferably is water proof or resistant,although this need not be the case.

If the board is made of wood, the top of the board preferably is ½ inchthick. Other thicknesses can be used.

The top of the board can be painted, made with a mosaic of materials, orotherwise marked with the card values. In one embodiment, the top ismade from a mosaic of poker chips and/or parts of poker chips, therebyproviding a visually appealing and durable surface.

In some embodiments, the game board also includes grid or grids 6corresponding to playing card values, which preferably are differentfrom the card values corresponding to the board's holes. The grid(s) cancover some or all of a top of the game board, and some or all other cardvalues can be included. FIG. 2 shows an example where the grid coversonly part of the board and only some other card values (here 6, 7, 8 and9) are included. FIGS. 3 and 4 show top views of some other possiblelayouts of grids and card values for seven hole and five hole gameboards. Other layouts of card values, holes, and/or a grid(s) also canbe used. Furthermore, it is possible to assign suits to the card values.

Returning to FIGS. 1 and 2, the game preferably is played by havingplayers make tosses 8 of tossable items 4 at game board 3. Card valuesare assigned to the tosses based on which of the plural holes thetossable items go through, if any. If the game board includes grid 6,card values also can be assigned to tosses that land on the boardwithout going through any of holes 3 based on where the tosses land. Awinner is determined among the players based on the card values of eachof the players' tosses ranked as if in a card game, for example poker orblackjack. Other card games such as gin rummy can be used to rank thehands.

The preferred embodiment ofthe game includes other improvements toassist in set-up and game play. These include, but are not limited to,bubble level 10 that can be used to level the game board during gameset-up, folding adjustable height legs 11 that fold up for compactstorage and that can be used to set up a level board on uneven ground,weights 12 that add stability to the game board, and catcher 14 hangingfrom a back of the game board to stop under thrown tossable items fromflying past underneath the game board. The game can be set up and playedwithout some or all of these innovations, and additional structures andinnovations also can be present.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a topper board for a hybrid bag toss andcard game that converts the game into a standard cornhole game. In thisembodiment, topper board 15 fits over game board 2 and covers all butone of plural holes 3. Topper board 15 has hole 16 matching theuncovered hole. The topper board also includes at least two disks 17 onits bottom that match holes in the game board, helping to ensure asecure fit. Clamps, brackets, or latches (not shown) also can be used tosecure the topper board to the game board. Games that do not include atopper board are also within the scope of the invention.

The topper board can be made of any suitably strong and durablematerial, including but not limited to wood, plastic, composites,fiberglass, metal, and the like. If the topper board is made of wood, itis preferably ½ inch thick. Other thicknesses can be used.

When the topper board is fit over the game board, the combinationresults in a configuration that complies with rules for cornhole. Forexample, when a ½ topper board is used with a game board that is angledto be 3.5″ off the ground in front and 11.5″ off the ground in the back,the result is a board that is angled to be 4″ off the ground in frontand 12″ off the ground in back. This corresponds to a standard cornholeboard. In this regard, official rules for cornhole are published by theAmerican Comhole Association at http://www.playcornhole.org/. Theserules are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth hereinand form a part of this disclosure. A copy of the rules is appended tothis application. This appendix also is hereby incorporated as if fullyset forth herein and forms a part of this disclosure.

The hybrid bag toss and card game preferably is played with two ofthegame boards 19 separated by 27 feet. FIG. 6 shows this arrangement.Players can toss at one game board, note their scores (i.e., playingcard values), go to the other game board to retrieve the tossable items,and then toss them at the other game board. The game can be played usingboards separated by a distance different from 27 feet. Alternatively, asingle game board can be used.

Another innovation that can be used with two game boards 19 includesdiagonally arranged strings 20. These strings are marked in theircenters. The strings can be attached to the boards, for example via eyehooks. When the strings are pulled taut and their centers are lined up,game boards 19 will be properly lined up and distanced apart from eachother. The strings preferably can then be detached and stored away.

Alternative Embodiments

The invention is in no way limited to the specifics of any particularembodiments and examples disclosed herein. For example, the terms“preferably,” “preferred embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “thisembodiment,” “alternative embodiment,” “alternatively” and the likedenote features that are preferable but not essential to include inembodiments of the invention. The terms “comprising” or “including” meanthat other elements and/or steps can be added without departing from theinvention. Many other variations are possible which remain within thecontent, scope and spirit of the invention, and these variations wouldbecome clear to those skilled in the art after perusal of thisapplication.

1. A game, comprising: an angled game board that has plural holesthrough which tossable items will fit; and markings on the game boardthat relate each of the holes to playing card values.
 2. A game as inclaim 1, wherein the tossable items are bean-bags, corn-filled bags, orballs, and further comprising plural of the tossable items.
 3. A game asin claim 1, wherein a number ofthe plural holes is five, correspondingto the card values of ten, jack, queen, king, and ace.
 4. A game as inclaim 1, wherein a number of the plural holes is seven, corresponding tothe card values of eight, nine, ten, jack, queen, king, and ace.
 5. Agame as in claim 1, further comprising a grid on the game boardcorresponding to other playing card values.
 6. A game as in claim 1,further comprising a bubble level on the game board that can be used tolevel the game board during game set-up.
 7. A game as in claim 1,further comprising folding adjustable height legs attached to the gameboard.
 8. A game as in claim 1, further comprising weights that addstability to the game board.
 9. A game as in claim 1, further comprisinga catcher for the tossable items hanging from a back of the game board.10. A game as in claim 10, further comprising a topper board that fitsover the angled game board and that covers all but one of the pluralholes, wherein when the topper board is fit over the angled game board,the combination results in a configuration that complies with rules forcornhole.
 11. A game as in claim 1, further comprising a second angledgame board that matches the angled game board.
 12. A game as in claim 1,further comprising diagonally arranged strings that assist in aligningthe game boards with each other at a predefined distance.
 13. A methodof playing a game comprising the steps of: having players make tosses oftossable items at an angled game board that has plural holes throughwhich the tossable items will fit; assigning card values to the tossesbased on which of the plural holes the tossable items go through, ifany; and determining a winner among the players based on the card valuesof each of the players' tosses ranked as if in a card game.
 14. A methodas in claim 13, wherein the card game is poker or blackjack.
 15. Amethod as in claim 13, wherein the tossable items are bean-bags,corn-filled bags, or balls.
 16. A method as in claim 13, wherein anumber of the plural holes is five, corresponding to the card valuesoften, jack, queen, king, and ace.
 17. A method as in claim 13, whereina number of the plural holes is seven, corresponding to the card valuesof eight, nine, ten, jack, queen, king, and ace.
 18. A method as inclaim 13, further comprising the step of assigning card values to thetosses that land on the game board without going through any of theplural holes based on where the tosses land on the game board.